Tyronn Lue's decision to stagger Isaiah Thomas' and LeBron James' minutes appear to be paying off.
For the first time since December, Cleveland won back-to-back games with a 121-104 victory Sunday over the Pistons.
However, Thomas sat out the fourth quarter, even though he posted a season-high seven assists along with 14 points.
"We talked about it, so I think that needs to happen," Thomas said, via ESPN. "My minutes just can't be with LeBron at all times. We got to play to our strengths. Just like Chris Paul and James Harden, they don't play together at all times.
"We got to play to our strengths. Kyrie (Irving) last year, they didn't play together at all times. So (Lue is) figuring it out, and we're figuring it out as a unit, how to use our strengths, and at the same time, we know for the most part we start games together, finish games together, and we go from there. So it's a learning process, and we're still learning each other. I'm still learning this team, and Ty Lue is still learning how to use me and use me to the best of my ability."
After a huge midseason slump, Lue admitted last week that he needed to shake up the starting lineup to see if that would help. He ended up benching Jae Crowder, put Tristan Thompson in at center and moved Kevin Love to power forward for Friday's home game against the Pacers.
Since that decision, along with staggering Thomas' and James' minutes, the Cavs have won.
"Came back and started Bron in the fourth quarter," Lue said of his plan. "Him and Kevin came out with 5 1/2 (minutes) to go in the third quarter, so we left I.T. in. We tried to get him out early in the first half, but we left I.T. in, and he was able to carry the scoring load in that third quarter. Then brought Bron back to start the fourth quarter and had a great rhythm. Tristan and (the) guys (who started) said, 'Let them go. Let them play.' Second unit came in and played well."
